‘Jihadi urged extremists to target Prince George at his school'

An alleged jihadi urged fellow extremists to target Prince George at his London school in a plot to wreak havoc across the UK, a court heard today.

Husnain Rashid, 31, posted a picture of the four-year-old alongside a silhouette of a jihadi fighter in secret messages to Muslim extremists around the world, as well as sharing his school’s address, it was alleged.

He was accused of telling followers: “Even the royal family will not be left alone”. Rashid, of Nelson, Lancashire, was also accused of providing a list of UK stadiums and telling followers to carry out violent attacks in Jewish areas.

Sporting a long beard and glasses, he appeared in the dock at Westminster magistrates’ court to face two terrorism charges.

Prosecutor Rebecca Mundy said Rashid was accused of setting up an account called The Lone Mujahid on encrypted messaging service Telegram to share information with fellow extremists.

“These activities provided practical assistance, and the intention behind them is the reader will go on to commit acts of terrorism”, she said.

Referring to the posts about Prince George, she added that the Lone Mujahid “posted a photograph of the young Prince George at the beginning of the school term next to a silhouette of what can only be described as a jihadi fighter”.

She said the picture was accompanied by the address of his school and the message: “Even the royal family will not be left alone.”

“The Crown says these are serious matters, the intention was to commit himself, or for others to commit acts of terrorism”, claimed Ms Mundy.

Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot remanded Rashid in custody until a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on December 20.

Rashid did not indicate pleas to charges of preparation of terrorist acts and preparation to assist others to commit terrorist acts.